Included Health inks 2 new payer partnerships to expand access to LGBTQ+ care

Included Health, the virtual care and navigation platform for underserved populations, has teamed up with Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care to expand access to LGBTQ+ care. 

Commercial members of both payers will have access to Included Health’s LGBTQ+ Health services this year. With the benefit, a dedicated team led by LGBTQ+ care coordinators will oversee in-network provider matching, care and benefit navigation and education and advocacy for members.

“Our work with Included Health reaffirms our commitment to supporting the care needs of our health plan members within the LGBTQ+ community,” Peter Bell, director of commercial strategy and innovation at Point32Health, said in an announcement. “We are excited to collaborate with the leading innovators in LGBTQ+ care navigation and access to offer best-in-class services in a way that is fully supportive of and attuned to our members’ unique preferences and care navigation needs.” 

Late last year at the HLTH conference, Included Health unveiled its All-Included Care offering, which combines care with live 24/7 concierge support. According to the company’s initial data, the offering increased year-over-year engagement with plan benefits by 33% and helped 77% more people connect to a higher-quality primary care physician.

“Research has shown that 40% of LGBTQ+ individuals have been discriminated against in a healthcare setting, a crippling reality that too often results in care postponement or avoidance,” said Colin Quinn, president of communities at Included Health, in the announcement. “We are thrilled to collaborate with an innovative health plan who shares our commitment to whole-person care for everyone. Together, we can engage and build trust with a community that faces barriers to great, personalized healthcare.”

In addition to offering LGBTQ+ Health, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care also provides its commercial members with access to Doctor On Demand by Included Health for urgent, primary and virtual primary care. LGBTQ+ care offerings have risen in popularity as employers and payers take note of growing demand. In partnership with Included Health, SCAN Health Plan launched a new plan designed for LGBTQ+ seniors last October, said to be the first of its kind. Executives told Fierce Healthcare at the time they hoped market players would notice and follow suit.